Oklahoma Schools: Making the Grade

In 2008, the Farris community in Atoka County almost lost their school. The school lacked money and enrollment, and teetered on the verge of a shut down.

Parents credit Superintendent Wes Watson with saving the school. But four years later, Farris is flirting with closure.

Last week, Oklahoma released the first ever report card grading system. It gives schools a grade of "A - F." The criteria used are student achievement, overall student growth, bottom 25 percent growth and whole school performance.

Watson said he doesn't understand why Farris received an "F." Especially since the school earned a 3.01 GPA. He sent the state an appeal, but he's still waiting for the reasoning behind the grade.

"How could you have signed that unless you had something to base it upon?" he said.

Joyce Gibson said her kids went to Farris - and now she has three grandkids there. She doesn't want to lose their school.

"I think it's unfair," she said. "All of the students have improved since last year, and have done better on their test scores."

Earlier this year, Farris tried to annex with Antlers Public Schools. Watson said Antlers rejected the deal.

He said the community differed on the issue.

Nadie Thomas disagreed with a move to Antlers.

"If I was gonna move my kids or grandkids, it would be to Atoka," she said.

But Watson said getting an "F" scares many parents.

"I do know that there is a stigma with this," Watson said. "Even if it is overturned, there is a stigma."

Farris was the only Texoma school to receive an "F." Most schools got "B's" and "C's," but a handful earned an "A," like Coalgate High School. Principal John Plunkett attributes it to a great staff, and a middle school that he said prepares students for the next level."

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